Marks and Spencers' Specials
M&S is famed for its quality and variety of products and is a great place to find a special present. Just choose from the following categories to see some suggestions and remember Free Delivery on orders over £30. So it's easy to shop online with M&S. And of course their 3 for 2 Xmas shop.
| Books | Drinks | Games | DVD's and CDs |
| Electronics | Garden | Health and Beauty | Kitchen and Houseware |
| Mens Clothes | Ladies Clothes | Kids Clothes | Per Una Range |
Books:
Drinks:
Games:
DVDs and CDs:
Electronics:
Garden:
Health and Beauty:
Kitchen and Houseware:
Mens Clothing:
Ladies Clothing:
Kids Clothing:
Per Una Range:
Xmas Factoids
White
Christmas in England
Snow
at Christmas is deep-seated in British culture, and many long for the likes of the scenes depicted on traditional
Christmas cards and in works like Dickens' 'A Christmas
Carol' or 'Pickwick Papers'.
The interest in snowy Christmases has its origins in the colder climate of the period 1550-1850 when Britain was in the grip of a 'Little Ice Age'. Winters were particularly persistent and severe - 1813/14 was the last winter that a 'frost fair' was held on the River Thames in London.
For most parts of the UK, Christmas comes at the beginning of the season for snow. Wintry weather is more likely early in the deepening cold of January. White Christmases were more frequent in the 18th and 19th centuries, even more so before the change of calendar in 1752 which effectively brought Christmas day back by 12 day
England has only known eight white Christmases in the last 100 odd years. According to the records of the Meteorological Office in London, snow fell on Christmas Day only in 1938,1976 and 2004. (The definition of a white Christmas in England is when one snowflake falls on the roof of the London Weather Centre.).
Trees and Decoration
Ancient, pre-Christian winter festivals used greenery, lights, and fires to
symbolize life and warmth in the midst of cold and darkness. The use of
evergreens and wreaths as symbols of life was an ancient custom of the
Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews, among other peoples. Tree worship was a common
feature of religion among the Teutonic and Scandinavian peoples of northern
Europe before their conversion to Christianity. They decorated houses and barns
with evergreens at the new year to scare away demons, and they often set up
trees for the birds in winter.
The modern Christmas tree seems to have originated in Germany during the Middle
Ages. A main prop in a medieval play about Adam and Eve was a fir tree hung with
apples. Called the "Paradise tree," it represented the Garden of Eden. German
families set up a Paradise tree in their homes on December 24, the feast day of
Adam and Eve. On it they hung wafers, symbolizing the bread distributed at the
celebration of the holy Eucharist, or communion, in churches. Because the
Christmas holiday followed immediately, candles representing Christ as the light
of the world were often added to the tree. Eventually cookies and other sweets
were hung instead of wafers.
The Christmas tree was introduced into England early in the 19th century, and it
was popularized by Prince Albert, the German husband of Queen Victoria. The
trees were decorated with candles, candies, paper chains, and fancy cakes that
were hung from the branches on ribbons. German settlers brought the Christmas
tree custom to the American colonies in the 17th century. The use of evergreens
for wreaths and other decorations arose in northern Europe. Italy, Spain, and
some other nations use flowers instead. Holly, with its prickly leaves and red
berries, came into holiday use because it reminded people of the crown of thorns
worn by Jesus on the way to his execution--the berries symbolizing droplets of
blood